Build this simple fold-away desk and enjoy additional workspace whenever necessary.
If your home could use a few more work areas, today’s DIY project is just what you need! I teamed up with Kreg Tools and their project plan website, dopten.com, to present this straightforward fold-away desk.
We are using our recently built folding desk as a computer workstation while we transition between homes. It is a significant improvement over the plastic folding table we had been using!
This table, however, is useful for more than just an office. It would also serve as an excellent crafting station!
If you work on crafts inside a closet, this table would provide an ideal surface. Simply open the closet and assemble your craft area within minutes, then tuck it away inside the closet when you are finished.
2×4 Desk Foundation
My goal was to make this folding desk simple to build while maintaining its strength. That made 2x4s an ideal choice.
Choosing 2x4s also keeps this DIY folding desk affordable. I spent only $30 on the lumber. This project would likewise be a smart way to use any extra 2×4 pieces you may already have.
In addition, the legs are very simple to assemble with the Kreg Jig. Only a handful of screws are required to create these durable desk legs.
The angled style also gives the desk a more polished appearance, so nobody will guess how straightforward it was to make with only a miter saw!
Solid Timber Desktop
The folding desk surface consists of two 1×6 boards. They can also be joined with ease using only a miter saw and the Kreg Jig.
There is something appealing about a beautiful solid wood top that is both simple and inexpensive. We finished ours with white stain. It provides the desktop with a bright, clean appearance while allowing the wood grain to remain visible.
If you have a piece of leftover plywood available, you could also turn it into a fast, level tabletop!
For a folding desk intended for a craft room, I would choose a melamine-covered panel for the surface. Another option would be plywood finished with laminate countertop material.
This would make cleaning away glue and paint much easier, helping your craft table stay tidy for longer. My own craft table is practically always cluttered!
Collapsible Desk Foundation
The greatest feature of this desk is that it can be put away whenever it is not needed!
The desktop detaches, while the legs fold flat with minimal effort. You can keep the desk inside a closet, beneath a bed, or even tucked behind a sofa.
Opening the legs and securing the desktop again takes only a couple of minutes. After that, you are ready to work or get creative.
I purchased the hinges and latches for this folding desk from my nearby Lowe’s, although I also located comparable choices online for you! The foundation is reinforced with T-hinges (Amazon link), while draw catches (Amazon link) secure the top.
The hinges and latches totaled $30, bringing the desk’s overall cost to $60. I already had screws available and used leftover stain from these nesting plant stands.
Plans for Building the Fold-Away Desk
If you are prepared to make your own straightforward folding desk, I am offering the construction plans at no cost with help from dopten.com.
Click here to view the full building plans.
For additional DIY desk inspiration, take a look at these other wonderful projects:
Enjoy building!